Russia urges Iran to halt uranium conversion

Russia called on Iran Tuesday to immediately halt uranium conversion activities and continue its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"It would be a wise decision for Iran to stop the work on converting uranium and continue close cooperation with the IAEA to settle remaining issues about the Iranian nuclear program," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.

"We believe that Iran could still continue a moratorium without any damage to its nuclear energy program," Kamynin said, adding Russia fully supplies fuel to the only nuclear power plant being built in Bushehr.

Russia believes in the "inseparable right of the signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under IAEA control," Kamynin said. "These very principles form the basis of Russian-Iranian cooperation in the Bushehr nuclear power plant."

Russia's call on Iran to stop converting uranium came as IAEA governors convened in Vienna for an emergency meeting after Iran resumed work at a uranium conversion plant Monday in the central city of Isfahan.

The board of governors will discuss an adjusted draft resolution by the European Union, which warns Tehran not to resume its uranium processing and enrichment program.

Russia's policy is to contribute to the strengthening of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and support the IAEA as a body overseeing compliance with the treaty, Kamynin said.

Source: Xinhua